Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-16
SAN PEDRO BAY.
An Attempt to Seize Large
Portion of Land.

letter was forwarded from Washington
to the United States Surveyor-Genera
at San Francisco:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
Washington, d. G., d c. IL, 1887. J
United States Surreyor- General, Sa,
Francisco. Cal.
SIR: On April 3, 1884, Fl. B. Wood
ward, OF San Francisco, made appli
cation for the survey, under the de.
post system, of alleged "unsurveyeo
land" which it was stated would be
found in township 5 south, ranges Il
and ii west, San Bernardino meridian
Stating al 10 that the land was not, sc
far as he knew. reserved by the Gov
eminent.
Upon this application contract No
39l was awarded to H. j. Stevenson
Deputy Surveyor, which was trans
mitted January 10, 1885, by Surveyor
General Brown for approval in the
ordinary routine way, without any
reference to the condition of the land
as Cover rment reserve.
prevail by this offiae January 20. 1885.
Its attention not being called to the
facts in the case the plats and tran
script of field notes were Transmitted
August 5, 1885. When the fact that
the survey had been ordered upon re-
served Ian W ,s first mentioned March
20. 1886, Special Examiner George r.
Pickett was instructed to make per-
sonal examination of the land and to
report specially upon the history and
the value OF til, re serv alton.
On March IA, 1887, Mr.. Pickett
made very full and intelligent report,
from which it appears that this reser-
walton has special value for public
purposes.
The Examiner says: "This reser-
walton is part of beautiful plateau
of level land fronting on the bay of
San Pe'iro, with a bluff bank about
forty feet high and commanding a
very extensive and fine view of the
mainland north and eastward about
one-quarter OF a mile west of the
reservation. The plateau swells
gradually into a high range OF smooth
hills commanding still more extern
sive view OF the bay and the sea and
the surrounding country.
The harbor consists OF an anchorage
for large vessels lying southeast, south
and southwest of Dad Mans island
and an inner harbor living north of
Dead Mans island inclosed between
two lines of ietties, the first running
out from the point near the end OF the
railroad to- a point within about 800
feet of Dead Mans island, and the
senoui extending from Dead Mans
island northward to the mainland.
Between them enter the waters of the
San Gabriel river-that is when they
are not entirely absorbed by the sands
before reaching the bays. ;.i-14a.s.i
Areef underlies that jetty from the
IA lroad point to the island, but the
point between the jetty and the is
land has been blasted out SO as to
give depth Of. about sixteen feet over
the reef at an average tide.
The anchorage outside has an area
Of several square miles, with a depth
of from 800 to 500 feet. This anchor
age is we'll protected from the west,
north and east winds, but is exposed
to the south and southwest winds so
as to make it unsafe during the strong
gales from those directions. | under
stand several wrecks have occurred
from this cause during the last year.
By running a breakwater out for
about mile and half large and
safe anchorage for the largest vessels |
could be secured, which would be
easy and safe Of entrance to vessels |
exposed to dangerous storms on this
part of the coast. 1t would, however,
be expensive to construct such a |
breakwater- understand the water
is from forty to fifty feet deep. In
view Of the fact, however, that there !
are no natural safe harbors on this !
Lcoast between San Diego and San
Francisco, the time cannot be very |
distant when it will become necessary
for tn. government to construct sew
eral harbors OF refuge for the growing |
commerce OF the coast, regardless of
expense. When that time comes the |
BAY OF San Pedro will have claims to
consideration which cannot be over
looked.
have made these suggestions as
bearing upon the prospective, if not |
the present; value of this reservation |
to the Government, and if such i'm
yryvements should be made they will |
add largely to the value Of the land,
as it fronts directly upon the anchor
age which would then become the |
main harbor. The Government has
already, | am informed, expended /!
more than hall a million OF dollars Oh |
the construction OF the jetties referred |
to, and there is vet an uncYpended |
appropriation of $4,000 for dredging
the inner harbor.
Another consideration bearing upon |
the prospective value of this reserva-
ton to the Government is suggested |
by the question Of the military defence
Of the harbor. A glance is sufficient |
to show the importance of this land |
In connection with Dead Mans Island |
as the site OF future defensive works. |
As a site for barracks or Of depot for |
military or naval supplies or for mill
tary or naval hospitals this land is adj
mirably adapted. 1t has beautiful
location, unsurpassed climate and SAM
tary conditions, and is accessible by |
land or sea to the whole western coast.
The Examiner then gives history |
of the reservation and includes the
statements in regard thereto Of Gov
ernor Pho Pico, Don Juan Sepulveda,
Colonel J. J. Warner, A. w. Timms
and Stephen G. Foster. He also al
ludes to the exception OF tn s reserva-
ton from the Mexican grant OF the
Rancho Los Palos Verdes.
The records OF this Office show the
existence Of this reserve, which is
marked on the township pats and on
the patented survey of the Rancho
Los Palos Verdes, and was excluded
from the patent of that rancho, the
survey of which shows that the reserve
was segregated from the rancho, and
it is shown by the field notes that the
same was distinctly and permanently
m rked